There are different systems in each province.
In New Brunswick, for the past 30 years, we have had what we call home care services or the extramural program. It works well. This program provides care to patients once they leave the hospital, for as long as they need it. Services offered include physiotherapy, social services and all medical services required, except for services from a physician, who does not go to the patient's home. However physicians will go to long-term residential care centres. This is a service offered by the program. Naturally, the extramural program, because it offers care in the patient's home or in a nursing home, places less stress on the regular health care system, for example, on hospitals. Patients who, 10 years ago, had to spend two weeks in hospital now spend two days. This means that more beds are available.
However, there is a problem: some seniors are hospitalized while waiting for a space in a long-term care centre because they have lost their autonomy. This is a major problem that all provinces are currently experiencing. There are too many seniors taking up hospital beds that are thus not available for emergencies. This is a major problem in both hospitals in Moncton. Over 200 elderly people are awaiting spaces in long-term care centres, but there is simply not enough room.
Also, seniors are now in better health, living longer and have less need of services. There are only 2, 3 or 4% of all seniors in long-term care centres because they have lost their autonomy. All the rest are active in society, and the longer we can keep them active and independent, the less it will cost our health care system. This is a fact proven by research, once again.